Are your kids all tied up?

The moment you become a mother, you need to impart a whole wealth of knowledge. That child is a sponge. You need to make sure they absorb everything from how to walk and talk, to how to identify shapes. Even once they’ve grasped the basics, there are more lessons to learn. When they’re older, they need to learn how to get dressed and, what we’re focusing on here, how to tie ties and shoelaces.

Both of these stumps every child at some point. They’re tasks we take for granted but they’re actually pretty complicated. It’s no wonder, then, that they’re difficult for little brains. Most parents praise velcro shoes and elastic ties. But, there comes a time when your little one will need to learn how to do these things for real. At the very least, they’ll want to follow the lead of other kids in their class. And, when that time comes, it can be difficult to know where to start. After all, these are things you’ve been doing without thought for years. Knowing how to pass that knowledge on can be tricky. Lucky for you, though, we’ve got some pointers which could help.

Remove alternatives

We get it; you’re a busy mom, and taking time out to teach things like this isn’t easy. Hence why you reach for alternatives rather than tackling the teaching task. The trouble is, substitutes don’t teach anything. Quite the opposite. If your child uses velcro shoes, they’ll never learn how to do their laces. If they slip an elastic tie over their heads, they’re not going to understand how to tie one. What’s more, having these options will stop them from even trying. The answer? Take away the alternatives, of course!

With alternatives out of the way, it’s time to find easy ways to teach those valuable lessons. One of the best options here is to use rhymes. Parents have been doing this for goodness knows how long, and with good reason. Kids seem to learn well with the help of rhymes. For one, these take the menace out of those kids ties and loopy laces. They’re also a fantastic way to ensure your child doesn’t forget the steps they need to take. There are many rhymes already out there you could use. Or, you could make up your own. Either way, this method is sure to wiggle into your child’s memory and make for long-lasting lessons.

Practice makes perfect

The last thing to bear in mind is that practice makes perfect. There are few children out there who will be able to do this after their first lesson. What’s more, expecting them to do so could lead to their feeling disillusioned with the whole affair. Instead, make sure they know that it’s okay to take their time with practice. It may take them a week or more to get right, but they’re sure to get there eventually. The more they practice, the more chance there is of your lessons sticking!